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Activation system architecture

Activation system architecture description/claims

Computer software may be purchased in various forms, such as on a computer readable medium. A user may then install the software on his/her computer system. The same purchased copy of software may be easily replicated and also installed on multiple machines. The software product vendor may want to control use of each purchased copy of the software product in accordance with the scope of the user's license such as, for example, not allow use of a same purchased copy on more than one computer system. In order to control use of purchased copies of the software product in accordance with a purchaser's license terms, different techniques may be utilized. One existing technique includes requiring activation of the software product after installation in order to use the installed software. For activation purposes, a product key consisting of letters and/or numbers may be included with each purchaser's copy of the software product. A different product key may be included with each purchaser's copy of the software product. After the software is installed on a computer by a user, a hardware identifier is generated. The hardware identifier may be characterized as a “fingerprint” of the user's computer on which the software has been installed. The hardware identifier may be produced using multiple hardware attributes of the user's computer. As part of the activation process, the user registers the hardware identifier with the product key. The hardware identifier is associated with the product key and may be used to track and control subsequent activations of the same purchased copy. For example, a same purchased copy of software may be installed on two computer systems each having a different hardware identifier. Activation may be completed for a first of the computer systems having a first hardware identifier. The user may attempt to activate the software for use on the second computer system. If the license terms only allow the purchased copy of the software to be activated on a single computer system, the activation process for the second computer may fail. As part of activating the software on the second computer, it is determined that the software having the product key is already activated on the first computer having the first hardware identifier.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Techniques are described herein for activating software for licensing purposes. An entitlement certificate is generated including one or more entitlements describing license characteristics of the software. The one or more entitlements are determined in accordance with first information about the software. A binding certificate in accordance with a binding type included in the one or more entitlements for the software is generated. The binding certificate identifies an entity to which the license is bound. A license in accordance with the binding certificate and the entitlement certificate is generated.

Features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an example of an embodiment illustrating an environment that may be utilized in connection with the techniques described herein;

FIG. 2 is an example of an embodiment of components that may comprise a device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an example of an embodiment of components that may be used in connection with online activation processing;

FIG. 3A is an example representation of an entitlements database;

FIG. 4 is an example of information that may be included in an entitlement certificate;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of processing steps that may be performed by a licensing service in connection with online activation processing;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of processing steps that may be performed in connection with launching software on a device having a license stored thereon;

FIG. 6A is an example representation of a license database;

FIG. 7 is an example of an embodiment of components that may be used in connection with offline activation processing;

FIG. 8 is an example of an installation identifier;

FIG. 9 is an example illustrating how the Offline Activation Service (OAS) parses an installation identifier;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of processing steps that may be performed by the OAS in connection with generating the confirmation identifier;

FIG. 11 is an example of a confirmation identifier;

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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